At Least 71 Dead as Wedding Party Truck Plunges into River
A tragic accident in southern Ethiopia claimed the lives of at least 71 people when a truck carrying passengers plunged into a river over the weekend. The incident occurred on Sunday evening in the Bona district of Sidama region, approximately 300 kilometers south of the capital, Addis Ababa.
According to the Sidama regional government’s spokesperson, Wosenyeleh Simion, five individuals were critically injured and are receiving treatment in local hospitals. Among the victims, at least three women were confirmed dead.
Many of the passengers were returning from a wedding celebration when the tragedy struck. Authorities stated that the truck was overloaded, which likely contributed to the accident. Traffic police also reported that the truck missed a bridge on a winding road, causing it to fall into the river.
While the exact number of passengers onboard has not been disclosed, it was confirmed that several families lost multiple members in the crash. Images shared by the Sidama Regional Health Bureau on social media depicted rescue efforts, with crowds attempting to retrieve the vehicle using ropes. In some photos, bodies of the deceased were seen covered with blue tarpaulins.
Ethiopia frequently experiences deadly road accidents due to poor driving conditions and badly maintained
vehicles.
